12 Benefits of Papaya – For Serving and properties

It's no wonder the papaya was called the "fruit of the angels" by Cristóvão Colombo conqueror. Her sweet and refreshing taste, its soft consistency and vibrant orange pulp are attractive to the eye and to the palate.

Papaya is a natural source of vitamins and minerals and can immensely benefit the health and vitality of our body because it is very healthy.

Among the benefits of papaya for health can list the support digestion, the immune system and heart health, among many others.

papaya Properties

Besides the delicious taste and color of the sun of the tropics, there are a number of papaya health benefits to those who consume it. The fruit is a rich source of nutrients.

Papayas have antioxidants such as carotenoids, flavonoids and vitamin C; B vitamins, folic acid and pantothenic acid; and minerals potassium, magnesium and copper, and fiber. Together, these nutrients promote the health of the cardiovascular system and also provide protection against colon cancer. It also contains the digestive enzyme papain, which is used for the treatment of sports injuries, trauma, and allergies.

Many studies suggest that increased consumption of plant foods such as papaya decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and brings other benefits like healthy skin and hair, increased energy and decreased weight.

Nutritional composition of papaya

A medium papaya Papaya has approximately 120 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrates (including 5 grams of fiber and 18 grams of sugar) and 2 grams of protein.

Papaya is an excellent source of vitamin C and a single average fruit can provide twice the daily needs of our body.

The fruit is a good source of folic acid, vitamin A, magnesium, copper, pantothenic acid and fiber. It also has B vitamins, alpha and beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamin E, potassium, vitamin K and lycopene, the powerful antioxidant most commonly associated with tomatoes.

Properties of seeds and papaya leaves

Research done by the US Department of Agriculture showed that papaya seeds are rich in fat and protein and can be a good source of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

The seeds are also indicated for the control of parasites in the gut.

Because of its high content of fat, researchers advise consuming papaya seeds sparingly. A portion papaya seeds two spoons is equivalent to a protein moiety.

As for tea or juice of papaya leaves, there is still little research attesting to its efficacy and safety, but many people especially in India and Malaysia are taking it to increase their platelet count when they are affected by the fever caused by dengue. Some doctors also believe that papaya leaf juice can get to avoid the need for platelet transfusion in severe cases.

12 benefits of papaya for health

Here's how the papaya properties provide benefits to health and fitness. So, what is the papaya anyway?

1. Consume papaya prevents nausea and helps in treating constipation

Take papaya juice and eat the ripe fruit helps in digestion of food. The presence of folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E in papaya also prevent nausea because they produce a tonic effect in the stomach and intestines.

The fibers papaya bring benefits such as increased bowel movements, improved evacuation and relief passage of stool, thus reducing the effects of constipation.

2. Protects against heart disease

Eating papaya can be very useful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and heart disease. The fruit is an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin A. These nutrients help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. When oxidized cholesterol is able to adhere and accumulate on the walls of blood vessels, forming dangerous plaques that can eventually cause heart attacks or strokes.

Papaya is also a good source of fiber, which can reduce elevated cholesterol levels.

Folic acid found in fruit serves to make the conversion of homocysteine ​​to a substance called benign amino acids such as cysteine ​​or methionine. If unconverted, homocysteine ​​can directly damage blood vessel walls and if your levels get too high, it is considered a significant risk factor for a heart attack or stroke.

3. Supports the immune system

Vitamin C and vitamin A, which are developed in the body from beta-carotene, present in abundance in papaya, are necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system. The prevention of infectious diseases like recurrent earaches, colds and flu, among others, are therefore more some of papaya benefits for our health.

The immune system acts as a shield against various infections that can make you really sick. A single papaya can cover more than 200% of the daily requirement of vitamin C, which makes it great to build a stronger immune system.

4. Acts as anti-inflammatory

Papaya contains several specific enzymes which digest proteins, including papain and chymopapain. These enzymes serve to help reduce inflammation and enhance the healing of burns. Also, papaya found in antioxidant nutrients, including vitamin C and beta-carotene, are good for reducing inflammation.

These properties explain why people with diseases that are worsened by inflammation, such as asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, usually feel better when they eat papaya.

5. Protects against macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is an eye disease age-related and is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. In this condition, ocular degenerated cells, resulting in blurred vision and can cause blindness.

There Papaw benefits to reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration because of the presence of beta-carotene antioxidant, responsible for the orange color of the fruit. Like carrots, papaya helps to improve eye health and vision quality.

According to a study published in Archives of Ophthalmology, the use of three or more daily servings of fruit can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

In a study involving more than 100,000 women and men, researchers evaluated the effect of consumption of fruits and vegetables containing carotenoids antioxidants in patients and followed the early development of macular degeneration in the most severe form of the disease associated with blindness. The results showed that fruit intake was definitely protective against the severe form of this disease that destroys vision.

6 may protect against rheumatoid arthritis

While one study suggests that high doses of vitamin C supplements can cause osteoarthritis, a form of degenerative arthritis, another indicates that consumption of foods rich in Vitamin C, such as papaya, can protect against polyarthritis, rheumatoid form of arthritis that It involves multiple joints.

Research has shown that chymopapain is responsible for the benefits of papaya on the control of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

7. Helps Lower Cholesterol

Papayas are rich in fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants that prevent the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries. accumulation of cholesterol can completely block the arteries, causing various diseases in the heart and vascular system.

8. Help you lose weight

Papaya is a fruit that can not be lacking in the diet of those who are planning to lose weight. It has fewer calories, has a considerable amount of fiber that help control hunger and has properties that bring papaya benefits the functioning of the intestine.

9. It is good for diabetics

Although papaya is naturally sweet, it has low sugar content (8.3 g papaya cut in a glass). This property makes the fruit an excellent choice for diabetics. Vitamins and phytonutrients that it has prevent the development of heart disease resulting from diabetes.

Also, people who have diabetes can eat papaya as a preventative.

10. prevents signs of aging

Healthy habits such as eating a papaya can daily slow the aging process. Papaya is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and beta carotene as antioxidants that help protect the skin from free radicals, reducing the incidence of wrinkles and skin dryness.

11. Promotes hair growth

In addition to maintaining healthy skin, most of the benefits of papaya is its importance for the health of hair. Vitamin A itself is used in the production of sebum, a compound that is crucial to maintaining smooth, shiny and hydrated hair. External application of papaya extract on the scalp can help you get rid of dandruff, which causes hair loss in many people.

The nutrients found in papaya help prevent hair loss and have properties that drive the growth and strengthening of the wires.

12. It may prevent cancer

Papaya is rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients and flavonoids which prevent the cells to damage by the action of free radicals. A study by the Harvard School Health Department showed that beta-carotene, found in abundance in papaya, protects against prostate cancer and acts against the growth of colon cancer.

The fibers present in papaya are also able to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon and keep them away from healthy cells. Furthermore, folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E have also been associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer.

Increase the intake of these nutrients through the consumption of papaya is an especially good attitude for individuals at risk for colon cancer.

regularly eat fruits rich in lycopene, such as papaya, can significantly reduce the risk of a man developing prostate cancer, suggests a study published in Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a nutrition Asian magazine.

The study involved 130 patients with prostate cancer and 274 in hospital control phase, and found that those who consumed fruits and vegetables rich in lycopene, such as tomatoes, apricots, grapefruit, watermelon, guava and papaya, were 82% less likely to have prostate cancer compared to those who did not consume them.

The survey also suggested that consumption of green tea concomitant with foods rich in lycopene resulted in a protective effect even stronger in men.

Tips for better use of papaya in the preparation of meals

Here in Brazil is traditionally consume pure ripe papaya, vitamin or fruit salads, but know that it also serves to be used in other ways.

After washing the fruit, cut it lengthwise and reserve the seeds, try squeezing lemon juice before eating the fruit.

Although most people discard the seeds, know that they are edible, have a spicy flavor and also bring the benefits of papaya to health. They can be chewed or mixed in salads and sauces to give a spicy flavor.

In Mexico, sliced ​​papaya is mixed with coriander, ginger and jalapeno pepper to make a cream they serve to eat with shrimp and other seafood.

In some Asian countries the papaya is beaten in a blender with strawberries and yogurt and served as a cold soup to start a meal.

In Thailand, more green papaya is sliced ​​thin and seasoned with lemon, salt, olive oil and mint and served as a salad.

Possible allergic reactions

The latex is a substance that develops naturally in papaya and is commercially used as a softener for the meat, in the manufacture of various cosmetics for skin and in certain chewing gums.

However, if a person is allergic to latex, it may possibly also be allergic to papaya.

As the avocado and banana, papaya contains a substance called chitinase, an enzyme syndrome associated with allergy to latex fruit.

Although not a common phenomenon, research indicates that chitinase cause allergic reaction to react with the natural latex fruits in individuals prone to such.

What did you think of the benefits of papaya? Now that you know what it does and knows its properties, will include it more on their menu? Comment below!